Arlington man arrested in apparent burglar slaying

Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a 38-year-old Arlington-area man on allegations that he shot and killed a burglar fleeing from his home.

The suspect, who had not yet been charged Thursday morning, reported a burglary Monday at his home in the 22800 block of 37th Avenue Northeast in unincorporated Snohomish County, a Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said in a statement.

Initially reporting that he’d returned home to find a man running from his house apparently with his wife’s jewelry, the man called back hours later to say that the burglar had returned to the area. A deputy responded but did not find the man.

On Wednesday, the body of a 25-year-old man was found in a small creek running through a neighboring property. On his person, according to the statement, were items consistent with the burglary.

Investigating the apparent slaying, detectives learned that neighbors heard gunshots Monday afternoon shortly before the homeowner made a second 911 call, according to the statement. One witness said he talked to the homeowner who told him he had fired “warning shots” at the man he saw running away from him into the field and wooded area.

Confronted by detectives, the man requested an attorney and was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, the spokeswoman said. Investigators, she added, do not have any information indicating the suspect was acting to defend himself.